Fiber drop terminal

ABSTRACT

A drop terminal mounting system includes a fiber drop terminal having a housing and a base attached to the housing. The housing includes an outer surface containing a plurality of receptacles and cooperatively defines an inner cavity with the base. The drop terminal mounting system further includes a bracket having a first fastening region and a second fastening region adapted to secure the drop terminal to the bracket.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 15/443,810,filed Feb. 27, 2017, issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 10,042,136, which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 15/286,160, filed Oct. 5, 2016, nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,851,522, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.13/734,395, filed Jan. 4, 2013, now abandoned, which is a continuationapplication of application Ser. No. 13/335,469, filed Dec. 22, 2011, nowabandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/841,879,filed Jul. 22, 2010, now abandoned, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 12/370,340, filed Feb. 12, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No.7,805,044, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/035,674,filed February 22, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,627,222, which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 11/198,848, filed Aug. 8, 2005, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,489,849, which claims the benefit of provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/624,582, filed Nov. 3, 2004, which applicationsare incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to communication networks and,more particularly, to fiber drop terminals for use in opticalcommunications networks.

BACKGROUND

Residential, corporate, government, educational, and institutional usersof communication services may desire high bandwidth connections to acommunications network in order to send and receive data at high ratesof speed. High bandwidth communications may allow users to takeadvantage of advanced communication capabilities, such asvoice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) communications, interactive gaming,delivery of high resolution video, such as high definition television(HDTV), as well as the transmission and/or reception of large datafiles.

Communication service providers, such as telephone companies, cabletelevision companies, etc., may understand that customers want thesehigh bandwidth applications and/or services at a reasonable cost. Pastattempts at providing high bandwidth communication channels haveincluded techniques such as integrated services digital network (ISDN),digital subscriber line (DSL), asynchronous digital subscriber line(ASDL) and cable television co-axial cable. Technologies such as thesemay provide broadband capabilities to an extent. For example, some DSLservices may provide up to approximately 5 Mbits/sec of data. Users may,however, demand even higher bandwidths. The above technologies may haveinadequate bandwidth for some users and/or these technologies may berelatively expensive to deploy and/or maintain.

Demand for higher bandwidth services, e.g., on the order of up to 500Mbits/sec or even higher, may cause service providers to look at newertechnologies. One such technology is referred to as passive opticalnetworks (PONS). PONS may use optical fibers deployed between a serviceprovider central office, or head end, and one or more end user premises.A service provider may employ a central office, or head end, containingelectronic equipment for placing signals onto optical fibers running touser premises. End user premises may employ equipment for receivingoptical signals from the optical fibers. In PONS, the central office, orhead end, transmission equipment and/or the transmission equipmentlocated at the end user premises may, respectively, use a laser toinject data onto a fiber in a manner that may not require the use of anyactive components, such as amplifiers between the central office, orhead end, and/or the end user premises. In other words, only passiveoptical components, such as splitters, optical fibers, connectors and/orsplices, may be used between a service provider and an end user premisesin PONS. PONS may be attractive to service providers because passivenetworks may be less costly to maintain and/or operate as compared toactive optical networks and/or older copper based networks, such as apublic switched telephone network (PSTN). In addition to possibly beingless expensive than other network topologies, PONS may providesufficient bandwidth to meet a majority of end users' high bandwidthcommunication needs into the foreseeable future.

In PONS, transmission equipment may transmit signals containing voice,data and/or video over a fiber strand to the premises. An optical fibermay be split using, for example, passive optical splitters so thatsignals are dispersed from one fiber (the input fiber) to multipleoutput fibers running to, for example, user premises from a convergencepoint in the network. An optical fiber routed to a user's premises maybe routed via a fiber drop terminal en route to the premises. At thefiber drop terminal, signals appearing on one or more optical fibers maybe routed to one or more end user premises. Fiber drop terminals may bemounted in aerial applications, such as near the tops of utility poles,along multi-fiber and/or multi-conductor copper strands suspendedbetween utility poles. Fiber drop terminals may also be installed injunction boxes mounted at ground level and/or in below-grade vaultswhere utilities are run below ground.

Fiber drop terminals may be made of injection molded plastic to keep perunit costs as low as possible. Since fiber drop terminals may be exposedto the elements, they may be resistant to water infiltration and/ordegradation due to ultraviolet (UV) light. Fiber drop terminalenclosures may be fabricated from UV resistant plastic and/or equippedwith gaskets to prevent water infiltration. At times, the plastic usedfor the enclosure may fatigue and/or crack leading to water and/or watervapor penetration into the interior of the enclosure. The design ofexisting enclosure mating surfaces, such as gasketed interfaces, mayinteract in a manner facilitating water and/or water vapor penetration.For example, gasket material may be of an inadequate durometer toprovide a weather-tight seal between an enclosure body and/or anenclosure base.

Existing fiber drop terminals may not have sufficient interior space toallow fibers within the enclosures to bend with a radius of at least anindustry and/or manufacturer recommended minimum bend radius. Whenoptical fibers are bent with a radius of less than an industry and/ormanufacturer recommended minimum, such as 1.75 inches, optical signallosses may result.

Existing fiber drop terminals may have connector orientations that donot facilitate unencumbered and/or ergonomic coupling and/or decouplingof optical fibers/connectors by service and installation personnel(hereafter linesmen). As a result, it may be difficult for a linesman toattach and/or remove connectors in certain situations, such as whenservicing a fiber drop terminal mounted on a utility pole using, forexample, a ladder and/or a bucket lift.

When fiber drop terminals are deployed in the field, they may need to betested prior to connecting subscribers to communication servicesdelivered via the fiber drop terminals. Testing may be required toconfirm that optical fibers coupled to the fiber drop terminal areoperating properly and that connectors and/or receptacles associatedwith the fiber drop terminal are installed and/or operating correctly.Testing may be performed by injecting a signal onto a fiber at a centraloffice and measuring the signal with a detector at a fiber dropterminal. A linesman may inject a signal onto a fiber at a centraloffice and then drive to a location having a fiber drop terminal. Thelinesman may climb a pole and connect a detector to an output receptacleon the fiber drop terminal. The linesman may determine if the signal hasa desired signal-to-noise ratio. After making the measurement, thelinesman may drive back to the central office and connect the testsignal to another fiber associated with the fiber drop terminal. Thelinesman may again drive to the terminal and detect the test signal. Ifa fiber drop terminal has, for example, eight output receptacles, thelinesman may repeat the drive to and from the drop terminal eight times.Testing fiber drop terminals using known techniques may be laborintensive and may consume a lot of fuel due to the back and forth tripsbetween the central office and fiber drop terminal locations.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an implementation, a fiber drop terminal may beprovided. The fiber drop terminal may include a housing having an outersurface containing a plurality of receptacles, where the housing furtherhas an inner cavity. The fiber drop terminal may include a storagecavity occupying a portion of the inner cavity, where the storage cavitybeing configured to store a plurality of fiber coils at an angle withrespect to the outer surface.

In accordance with another implementation, a fiber drop terminal isprovided. The fiber drop terminal may include a first face having afirst plurality of output receptacles having a first mounting angle withrespect to the first face. The fiber drop terminal may include a secondface having a second plurality of output receptacles having a secondmounting angle with respect to the second face. The fiber drop terminalmay include a mating angle formed by an intersection of the first faceand the second face, where the mating angle facilitate access to thefirst and second plurality of output receptacles.

In accordance with yet another implementation, a fiber drop terminal isprovided. The fiber drop terminal may include a housing that includes afirst receptacle support face for receiving a first output receptacle,having a lower edge; a second receptacle support face for receiving asecond output receptacle, and having an upper edge; a transition portionlocated between the lower edge and the upper edge, where the transitionportion forms a valley area at the connection with the lower edge; and agusset contacting the lower edge, the valley and the transition portion,where the gusset is further configured to reinforce the valley area.

In accordance with still another implementation, a cylindrical fiberdrop terminal is provided. The cylindrical fiber drop terminal mayinclude an input section having an input channel for receiving anincoming fiber bundle having a plurality of input optical fibers, wherethe input section further has an input section mating surface and aninner cavity. The cylindrical fiber drop terminal may include a firstoutput section having a first plurality of output receptacles. The firstoutput section may further have a first mating surface for mating withthe input section mating surface, a second mating surface, and a firstinner cavity. The cylindrical fiber drop terminal may include an end capsection having a second inner cavity for storing fiber coils and furtherhaving an end cap mating surface for mating with the second matingsurface.

In accordance with yet another implementation, a fiber drop terminal isprovided. The fiber drop terminal may include means for receiving anincoming optical signal; means for storing optical fiber at an angledorientation within the fiber drop terminal; and means for making theincoming optical signal available to premises.

DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the inventionand, together with the description, explain the invention. In thedrawings,

FIG. 1 illustrates a first schematic representation of an exemplarybroadband access network that may include passive optical network (PON)components in an implementation consistent with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a second schematic representation of an exemplarybroadband access network that may employ fiber to the premises (FTTP)and/or PON components in an implementation consistent with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary implementation of a fiber drop terminalthat may include a stepped face, consistent with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 3B illustrates a cut away view of the exemplary implementation thehousing illustrated in FIG. 3A, consistent with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a view of an interior cavity associated with anexemplary implementation of a fiber drop terminal employing an angledfiber management cavity, consistent with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section of an exemplary implementation of afiber drop terminal housing employing a fiber management cavity forstoring fiber coils at an angled orientation, consistent with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a fiber retentiondevice in accordance with an implementation consistent with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 7A illustrates an exemplary implementation of a fiber drop terminalthat may include a fiber input channel located in a lower portion of theterminal, consistent with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 7B illustrates an exemplary implementation of a fiber drop terminalincluding a fiber input channel located in an upper portion of theterminal, consistent with the principles of the invention;

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate the exemplary implementations of FIGS. 7A and7B, respectively, in combination with ruggedized multi-fiber inputconnectors to facilitate a removable interconnection between an incomingfiber bundle and/or an output connector, consistent with the principlesof the invention;

FIG. 8C illustrates an overhead view of an exemplary implementation ofthe fiber drop terminal of FIG. 8A and/or 8B showing fiber retentionand/or routing techniques that may be employed within the terminals,respectively, consistent with the principles of the invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an exemplary implementation of a fiber dropterminal having a reinforced housing that may include reinforcinggussets at locations that may be associated with regions of adversestress, consistent with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 10A illustrates an exemplary implementation of an enclosure matingsurface utilizing a gasket device to facilitate a weatherproof sealbetween a housing and a base, consistent with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 10B illustrates the mating surface of the exemplary implementationof FIG. 10A in greater detail, consistent with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 11A illustrates an exemplary implementation of a mounting bracketthat may be used to attach an implementation of a fiber drop terminal toa substantially vertical surface, consistent with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 11B illustrates an exemplary implementation of a fiber dropterminal mounted to a substantially vertical surface via the mountingbracket illustrated in FIG. 11A, consistent with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 11C illustrates an exemplary technique for attaching the fiber dropterminal of FIG. 11B to the bracket of FIG. 11A, consistent with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 11D illustrates an exemplary implementation of a base module havingself-alignment channels to facilitate self-alignment of a fiber dropterminal with a mounting bracket, consistent with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 11E illustrates the exemplary enclosure of FIG. 11B along with anexemplary implementation of a top entry fiber optic connector,consistent with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 11F illustrates the exemplary enclosure of FIG. 11B along with anexemplary implementation of a bottom entry fiber optic connector,consistent with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 12A illustrates a first exemplary implementation of a fiber dropterminal that may include pry tabs for facilitating removal of anenclosure housing from a base, consistent with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 12B illustrates a second exemplary implementation of a fiber dropterminal employing pry tabs, consistent with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a fiber drop terminalincluding recessed pockets for supporting output receptacles that may beadapted to receive output connectors, consistent with the principles ofthe invention;

FIGS. 14A-C illustrate various aspects of an exemplary implementation ofa fiber drop terminal 1400 having tiered receptacles mounted on faceshaving an angular association with each other, consistent with theprinciples of the invention;

FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a fiber drop terminalhaving output receptacles and contoured surfaces associated withreceptacle pocket areas, consistent with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a fiber drop terminalemploying a cylindrical enclosure, consistent with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 17A illustrates an implementation of a fiber drop terminal 1700employing loop back-plugs, consistent with the principles of theinvention;

FIG. 17B illustrates an exemplary flow diagram illustrating a method fortesting a fiber drop terminal used in a communication network consistentwith the principles of the invention;

FIG. 18 illustrates a flow chart showing an exemplary method for routingfiber strands within a fiber drop terminal employing an angled fibermanagement system, consistent with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 19 illustrates a flow chart showing an exemplary method forinstalling a fiber drop terminal using a bracket, consistent with theprinciples of the invention; and

FIG. 20 illustrates a flow chart showing an exemplary method forinstalling fiber drop terminals and/or output connectors onto amulti-fiber strand prior to deployment in the field, consistent with theprinciples of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary implementations of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. While exemplary implementations are provided, otherimplementations are possible in light of the specification. As such,changes may be made to the exemplary implementations described hereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thefollowing detailed description does not limit the invention; butinstead, the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claimsand their equivalents. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers maybe used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first schematic representation of an exemplarybroadband access network 100 that may include PON components in animplementation consistent with the principles of the invention. Network100 may include an optical line terminal (OLT) 102, a voice input 104, adata input 106, a video input 108, a wavelength division multiplexed(WDM) fiber 110, a passive optical splitter (POS) 112, a fiberdistribution hub (FDH) 114, optical network terminals (ONTs) 116 and118, a residence 120, and an office building 122.

OLT 102 may include any device capable of placing data onto one or moreoptical fibers. For example, OLT 102 may include a head end controlleradapted to inject signals onto one or more optical fibers. Network 100may employ OLT 102 for receiving input data from one or more servicenetworks. By way of example, OLT 102 may receive voice input 104, datainput 106 and/or video input 108 from one or more service networksassociated with, for example, a telecommunications provider, amulti-media provider, and/or a cable television provider. OLT 102 mayqueue and/or output a multiplexed data stream over one or more opticalfibers 110. For example, an exemplary implementation of OLT 102 mayoutput voice at a wavelength on the order of 1490 nanometers (nm), dataat a wavelength on the order of 1310 nm and/or video at a wavelength onthe order of 1550 nm.

WDM fiber 110 may include any medium capable of carrying optical signalsfrom a source to a destination. WDM fiber 110 may transport data from aproximal, or input, end using techniques, such as WDM, to a distal, oroutput, end. POS 112 may include any device capable of accepting anincoming optical signal and splitting the optical signal into two ormore output signals. POS 112 may receive data by way of a single fiber(the input fiber) and split the data across two or more output fibers.For example, POS 112 may split incoming data across 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, ormore output fibers. In an exemplary implementation, each output fiber isassociated with an end user, such as a residence 120 and/or a commercialend user in office building 122. POS 112 may be located in both indoorand outdoor environments. For example, POS 112 may be located in acentral office/head end, environmentally secure cabinets, and/or inoutdoor enclosures such as fiber drop terminals. In one implementation,POS 112 may include optical splitters that are prepackaged in opticalsplitter module housings. Packaging POS 112 in an optical splittercassette, or housing, may provide protective packaging to facilitateeasy handling of otherwise fragile splitter components by linesmen. Anoptical splitter cassette may include any device capable of housing oneor more assemblies used for splicing an incoming fiber into two or moreoutgoing fibers.

FDH 114 may include any device capable of housing POS 112. For example,in one implementation, FDH 114 may include a re-enterable weather tightenclosure capable of holding one or more POSs 112. Exemplaryimplementations of FDH 114 are described in pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/714,814 entitled Systems and Methods for FiberDistribution and Management, filed on Nov. 17, 2003, and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/991,135 entitled Systems and Methods for OpticalFiber Distribution and Management, filed on Nov. 17, 2004, the entirecontents of which are, respectively, hereby incorporated by referenceherein. Implementations of FDH 114 may allow easy re-entry by linesmenand/or other service personnel. A linesman may access FDH 114 to installone or more POSs 112, to make fiber connections available to asubscriber, and/or to troubleshoot POS 112. For example, POS 112 may bemounted in FDH 114 using cassettes operating in conjunction with a fiberpatch panel to facilitate routing of fiber jumpers. Fiber jumpers may beused to connect the splitter outputs of POS 112 to one or moresubscriber ports on the fiber patch panel. A subscriber port mayfacilitate connection of an optical signal from a central office and/orhead end to a customer premises. FDH 114 may, for example, serve on theorder of 144 to 432 splitter ports and/or premises, and may includemultiple distribution cables, connectorized and/or fusion splicedbetween OLT 102 and POS 112 located within, for example, FDH 114.

Network 100 may be designed to achieve low optical insertion loss inorder to achieve maximum network reach from electronics having fixedpower output. Each optical component and subsystem utilized in thenetwork may be optimized to provide minimum insertion loss. For example,an optical loss budget in an exemplary implementation may beapproximately 23 to 25 dB with 1:32 passive splitting. The componentsand factors contributing to the optical loss may include splitters(1:32, single or cascaded), WDMs, connectors such as to OLT 102, POS112, a fiber patch panel, a fiber drop, and/or ONT 116, 118, fiberattenuation at various frequencies, such as, wavelengths of 1310 nm,1490 nm, and/or 1550 nm, and/or fiber splices.

ONTs 116, 118 may include any device capable of receiving an incomingoptical signal and making it available to a destination. For example,and end user location, such as residence 120, may use ONT 116 to receivea multiplexed incoming optical signal and make it available to an enduser device, such as a computer. In one implementation, ONT 116 may actas a demultiplexer by accepting a multiplexed data stream containingvoice, video, and/or data. ONT 116 may demultiplex the incoming datastream and provide a separate voice channel to a user's telephone, aseparate video channel to a television set, and/or a separate datachannel to a computer.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second schematic representation of an exemplarybroadband access network 200 that may employ FTTP and/or PON componentsin an implementation consistent with the principles of the invention.Network 200 may include a circuit switch/OLT 202, a service areainterface (SAI) 204, a splitter hub 206, one or more residential ONTs208, one or more small business ONTs 210, one or more office park ONTs212, FTTP 214, utility pole 216, downstream splitter 218, and fiber dropterminal 220. Circuit switch/OLT 202 may include central officeequipment for placing optical signals onto FTTP 214. For example,circuit switch/OLT 202 may convert analog signals associated with a PSTNto optical signals that are conveyed to FTTP 214. SAI 204 may includeany device capable of splitting an incoming signal into multipleoutgoing signals. For example, SAI 204 may receive an optical fiber fromcircuit switch/ONT 202. SAI 204 may split data on the incoming fiberinto multiple outgoing data flows on a like number of outgoing opticalfibers. SAI 204 may split an incoming signal into, for example, 32output signals using a 1×32 splitter. Splitter hub 206 may include anydevice capable of retaining SAI 204. For example, splitter hub 206 maybe implemented as FDH 114 as discussed in conjunction with FIG. 1.

Residential ONT 208 may include any device capable of receiving anincoming optical signal and making it available to a destination.Residential ONT 208 may operate in a manner similar to ONTs 116 and 118described in conjunction with FIG. 1. Small business ONT 210 may includeany device capable of receiving an incoming optical signal and making itavailable to a destination, such as a small business. Small business ONT210 may serve a single small business and/or may serve a group of smallbusinesses, such as businesses co-located in a strip mall and/or smallcommercial building. Office park ONT 212 may include any device capableof receiving an incoming optical signal and making it available to adestination. Office park ONT 212 may operate to serve an office parkincluding one or more buildings and/or offices.

Optical signals may be conveyed from SAI 204 and/or splitter hub 206 byFTTP 214. FTTP 214 may include one or more optical media capable ofconveying optical signals from a source to a destination. Optical mediamay include optical fibers. Optical fibers used in outdoor installationsmay include a protective sheath surrounding the optical medium toprovide rigidity, strength, durability, color coding, strain reliefand/or protection from the elements such as water and/or UV radiation.

FTTP 214 may include a single fiber and/or multiple fibers. When FTTP214 includes multiple fibers, the multiple fibers may be deployed in amulti-fiber strand, or bundle, surrounded by a protective bundle-sheath.The bundle-sheath may operate to provide rigidity, strength, durability,color coding, strain relief and/or protection from the elements such aswater and/or UV radiation. Bundled fibers may include breakouts atdetermined locations. Breakout refers to a location on a bundle-sheathwhere one or more optical fibers exit the interior portion of thebundle-sheath and are made available to other devices, such asresidential ONT 208, small business ONT 210, office park ONT 212 and/orfiber drop terminal 220.

FTTP 214 may be suspended above grade using one or more utility poles216. Utility pole 216 may include any device capable of supporting anoptical fiber. Utility pole 216 may include conventional utility polesand/or optical fiber supporting devices used on structures, such as theexterior surfaces of buildings. A fiber drop terminal 220 may be used inconjunction with utility pole 216. Utility pole 216 may be used tosupport conventional copper wire strands such as those used for plainold telephone service (POTS), those used for cable television (CATV)and/or FTTP 214.

Network 200 may include one or more downstream splitters 218. A downstream splitter 218 may include any device capable of splitting anincoming optical signal into two or more outgoing optical signals.Downstream splitter 218 may include a reduced splitting capacity ascompared to splitter hub 206. For example, downstream splitter 218 mayinclude a 1×2, 1×4 and/or 1×8 splitter. Downstream splitter 218 mayinclude passive and/or active splitting devices operating alone or oncombination. In one implementation, downstream splitter 218 may beincorporated into fiber drop terminal 220.

Fiber drop terminal 220 may include any device capable of receiving oneor more input fibers and distributing optical communication signalstraversing the input fibers to one or more output fibers. Fiber dropterminals 220, consistent with implementations of the invention, areused to interface between distribution cables and drop cables in a PONapplication. Fiber drop terminal 220 may be manufactured from injectionmolded plastic and may include an enclosure body, or housing, and abase. Fiber drop terminal 220 may be configured by splicing amulti-fiber cable at a branch, or breakout, point. For example, a largefiber count distribution cable may be spliced to obtain eight fibers toconnect to a fiber drop terminal having eight output receptacles. Asingle cable having one or more optical fibers therein may depart thesplice location and serve as an input, or feed, cable to fiber dropterminal 220. By way of example, a feed cable may have a central tubehousing a plurality of individual optical fibers. Inside fiber dropterminal 220, the multi-fiber feed cable may be separated intoindividual fibers and then terminated on individual rugged outdoorreceptacles, connectors and/or adapters located on an exterior surfaceof the enclosure. Fiber drop terminal 220 may thus used to stage the PONcabling system near premises locations, such as a residence 120 oroffice building 122, so that when a subscriber requests service, asimple connectorized drop cable can be quickly and easily connectedbetween fiber drop terminal 220 and circuit switch/ONT 202 and acustomer premises.

Fiber drop terminal 220 may also be coupled to a feed cable at amanufacturing or assembly plant. For example, fiber drop terminal 220may be installed on a multi-fiber stranded feed cable at a predeterminedlocation. In another implementation, a breakout may be terminated withan input connector at a manufacturing plant. In the field, a fiber dropterminal 220 may be attached to the input connector via an inputreceptacle. Implementations of fiber drop terminal 220 may take manyforms. Several exemplary implementations are described herein.

The network architecture described in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2 mayoperate in a point to multi-point PON configuration utilizing, forexample, 1:32 splitters at FDH 114 or splitter hub 206. The networkarchitecture may be fiber rich, such as in a 1:1 distributionarrangement between FDH 114 and a customer's premise, such as residence120, and/or the network architecture can be diluted, such as in a 1:Xarrangement where X is an integer larger than 1.

The broadband services capability of network 100 and/or network 200 fordistributing source information may include data signals, at for example622 Mbps×155 Mbps (shared), video signals, at for example 860 MHz forapproximately 600 analog and/or digital channels and/or high definitiontelevision (HDTV), and/or video on demand (VOD). Source information mayconsist of data, such as, voice, video, text, still images, numericaldata and/or control data. Source information may originate at a sourcelocation, such as a telecommunications service provider (hereinafterservice provider). Signaling may be accomplished using WDM and/or fibersharing. Network 100 may include ONTs 116 and 118 that are scalable,provide high bandwidth, and/or support multi-service applications thatcan service residences and/or small to medium sized businesses. MultipleONTs 116 and 118 may be operated in parallel to provide greater overallbandwidth to a destination, such as a large office building. Network 100may include passive components that are located outside the plant, i.e.,outside the service provider's building, and require minimalmaintenance, since active components, such as amplifiers, may not berequired.

Implementations of networks 100 and/or 200 may include digitalsubscriber plug-in line cards having a broadband terminal adaptersconfigured to receive digitally multiplexed broadband data streams andoutput one or more demultiplexed broadband data streams for one or moresubscriber loops.

FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary implementation of a fiber drop terminal300 that may include a stepped face, consistent with the principles ofthe invention. Stepped face terminal 300 may include a base 302, afastener guide 304, a housing 306 having a fiber management portion 308,one or more output receptacles 310A-D, an output connector 312, anoutput fiber 314, an input channel 316, and an incoming fiber bundle318.

Terminal 300 may be deployed in a number of installed environmentsincluding aerial (such as near the top of a utility pole), pedestal(such as cabinets accessible when standing on grade), and/or below grade(such as in below grade vaults and/or sealed enclosures). Terminal 300may consist of two molded plastic enclosure parts separated by aflexible sealing interface that operates to seal an internal cavityagainst the elements. For example, terminal may consist of base 302 andhousing, or body, 306.

Terminal 300 may include base 302 that can be releasably attached tohousing 306 using, for example, fasteners, keyed retainers, clampingdevices, etc. Base 302 may include a substantially flat shape configuredto retain a gasket and/or other sealing device along a base mountingsurface that may be releasably coupled to a corresponding housingmounting surface associated with housing 306. Base 302 may be adaptedfor attachment to a surface, such as a utility pole, using fasteners,such as nails, and/or screws, via fastener guide 304.

Housing 306 may be shaped so as to form a cavity for housing opticalfibers. Housing 306 may include an outer surface having penetrationspassing therethrough for receiving, for example, output receptacles310A-D. Housing 306 may be shaped so that an upper surface of base 302operates to form an enclosed area in conjunction with the cavity whencoupled to housing 306 along a gasketed interface. Housing 306 may beconfigured so that a portion of the inner cavity operates as a fibermanagement portion 308 for storing excess optical fiber. In oneimplementation, housing 306 may be configured to have a depth 320sufficient to allow storage of fiber coils in an angular orientation soas to facilitate maintaining a determined minimum bend radius. Forexample, fiber management portion 308 may be configured to retain fibercoils with a bend radius meeting at least a manufacturer recommendedminimum bend radius.

PON fiber drop terminals similar to those shown in FIG. 3A may be usedto provide a breakout of multiple fiber cable containing, for example,4, 6, 8 and/or 12 fibers into individual rugged outdoorconnector-adapters. The breakout of the fibers inside terminal 300 maybe performed by placing bends on the individual fibers within theenclosure.

Terminal 300 may include an enlarged fiber management portion 308. Useof an enlarged fiber management portion 308 ensures that fibers are notadversely impinged by the interior walls of the enclosure. The enlargedfiber management portion 308 allows at least one path for a fiber whichmeets a manufacturer's minimum recommended bend radius for the fiber. Amanufacturer's minimum recommended, or specified, bend radius refers toa parameter disseminated to the industry for particular types of opticalfibers. This parameter identifies a recommended minimum bend radius fora given fiber. If a minimum bend radius is exceeded, excess signal lossmay occur resulting in a reduced signal-to-noise ratio at a receivingdevice. For example, if a manufacturer specifies a minimum bend radiusas 1.5 inches, the bend radius is exceeded when an optical fiber is bentsuch that the bend radius is less than 1.5 inches, such as would occurif a bend radius of 1.4 inches were used. Since signal loss may increaseexponentially when the minimum bend radius is exceeded, care should betaken to maintain at least the minimum specified bend radius.

By increasing the depth 320 of terminal 300, a path exists within theenclosure for a coil to be installed at an angle that meets the minimumbend radius criteria and therefore eliminates the risk of increasedsignal attenuation due to excessive fiber bending. By using fiberretaining mechanisms, such as hooks (shown in FIG. 6), the coil can beorganized and retained at a proper radius without losing theorganization of the coils. Depth 320 may be altered as needed to achievea desired bend radius for fiber coils arranged therein.

Implementations of terminal 300 may have the following exemplarydimensions: for a 4 output enclosure, 3″ (76.2 mm) deep×3.6″ (91.4 mm)wide×11.1″ (281.9 mm) long; for a 6 or 8 output enclosure, 3″ (76.2 mm)deep×3.6″ (91.4 mm) wide×16.6″ (421.6 mm) long; and for a 12 outputenclosure, 3″ (76.2 mm) deep×3.6″ (91.4 mm) wide×22.7″ (576.6 mm) long.

Output receptacles 310A-D may include any device capable of receiving aconnector. For example, output receptacle 310 may convey optical datareceived via incoming fiber bundle 318 to an output fiber 314. Forexample, output receptacles 310A-D may provide a rugged exterior packagethat houses a ferrule alignment sleeve for the purpose of mating twofiber optic connectors. Output receptacles 310 may include a fiber opticconnector consisting of an interior SC/APC (angled physical contact)that is connected to a single optical fiber. The optical fiber may beover-tubed with a 900 μm (nine-hundred micron) diameter clear and/orcolor coded tubing material to protect the waveguide portion of thefiber that carries the optical signal. The interior SC/APC connector mayreleasably mate with output connector 312. Output receptacles 310A-D maybe plugged when not in use so as to prevent dirt and moisture fromaccumulating on a fiber within an output receptacle.

Output connector 312 may include a modified SC/APC connector that hasbeen strengthened to increase its durability to meet, for example,outdoor environments. For example, output connector 312 may includemodifications to provide weather and UV protection to an optical fiberinside the connector. Output connector 312 may also be adapted toincrease the pull-out force of the fiber from the connector and/orconnector from a receptacle to a value of 100 pounds or more. By way ofexample, a pull out strength for a typical SC/APC connector may be onthe order of 3 to 4 pounds. Employing implementations of outputconnector 312 may significantly improve pull out resistance as comparedto that of conventional SC/APC connectors. Output connector 312 andoutput receptacle 310 may form a watertight assembly when coupledtogether using, for example, threaded sleeves. In one implementation,output connector 312 and/or output receptacle 310 are equipped witho-rings to provide radial seals within each receptacle when mated tooutput connector 312. Output receptacles 310 may also be equipped withone or more o-rings proximate to an interface between output receptacles310 and housing 306.

Examples of connectors and/or receptacles that can be used withimplementations of fiber drop terminals described herein are, but arenot limited to, those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,520 B2 entitledFiber Optic Plug and U.S. Pat. No. 6,579,014 B2 entitled Fiber OpticReceptacle, each of these patents is hereby incorporated by referenceherein in its respective entirety.

Incoming fiber bundle 318 may include one or more input optical fibersenclosed within a protective sheath, or tube, for coupling incomingoptical signals with output connector 312 via output receptacle 310. Forexample, if terminal 300 includes four receptacles, incoming fiberbundle 318 may include four optical fibers. An incoming optical fibermay be associated with a particular output receptacle. The quantity offibers within incoming fiber bundle 318 may match the number ofreceptacles 310A-D, may exceed the number of receptacles 310A-D, and/ormay be fewer than the number of receptacles 310A-D. Individual opticalfibers within an incoming fiber bundle 318 may be adapted for outdoorapplications using 900 μm clear and/or color coded tubing forprotection. The incoming fibers may terminate with an industry standardSC/APC connector.

Incoming bundle 318 may enter terminal 300 by way of input channel 316.Input channel 316 may consist of a passage or tubular entrance throughwhich bundle 318 may pass. Individual fibers may be fanned out fromincoming bundle once inside the inner cavity of terminal 300. Incomingbundle 318 may be sealed to input channel 316 using, for example,potting techniques know in the art. Input channel 316 may be adapted toreceive an input receptacle for receiving incoming fibers. When inputchannel 316 is adapted with a receptacle, incoming bundle 318 may beterminated with a mating input connector for coupling optical signals tothe input receptacle and/or to output receptacle 310.

FIG. 3B illustrates a cut away view of the exemplary implementation ofthe housing illustrated in FIG. 3A, consistent with the principles ofthe invention. Housing 306 may be configured with a stepped face formounting connector receptacles. Housing 306 may include a storage cavity330, a first stepped face 332, a first transition region 334, a secondstepped face 336, a second transition region 338, a first inside angle340, a second inside angle 342 and a retainer mounting channel 344.First applied force 346, second applied force 348, and third appliedforce 350 may represent forces associated with mounting terminal 300.

Storage cavity 330 may occupy a portion of the interior of housing 306and may be used for storing excess optical fiber. For example, storagecavity 330 may be located in an upper portion of the interior of housing306 and may be sized for storing coiled optical fibers. Storage cavity330 may be used for maintaining excess optical fiber in an organizedmanner that facilitates efficient configuration and assembly of terminal300.

First stepped face 332 and second stepped face 336 may be configured toreceive output receptacle 310. First stepped face 332 and second steppedface 336 may operate as output receptacle support surfaces. Firststepped face 332 and second stepped face 336 may be arranged withrespect to first transition region 334 and second transition region 338,respectively, so as to maintain output receptacle 310 at a determinedrelationship, or orientation, with respect to housing 306 and or amounting location, such as a utility pole. First inside angle 340 mayoperate with first stepped face 332 and first transition region 334 toestablish the predetermined orientation for a output receptacle 310installed therein. Second inside angle 342 may operate with secondstepped face 336 and second transition region 338 to establish thepredetermined orientation for an output receptacle 310 installedtherein. The predetermined orientation for receptacles in first steppedface 332 and second stepped face 336 may be substantially similar orthey may be different. For example, housing 306 may be associated withbase 302 and mounted to a utility pole. It may be determined thatlinesmen will approach housing 306 via a ladder. First stepped face 332and second stepped face 336 may be configured so that receptaclesmounted therein are aligned to provide a linesman with an ergonomicand/or readily visible access to output receptacle 310 when attaching anoutput connector 312 and/or output fiber 314.

Housing 306 may include one or more retainer mounting channels 344 foradjustably retaining fiber retention devices, such as hooks, clamps,cable ties, etc. For example, retainer channel 344 may facilitate aheight adjustment with a fiber retaining hook used to retain excessoptical fiber in coils within the inner cavity of housing 306.

Housing 306 may be subject to one or more applied forces when attachedto a base, such as base 302, using attachment devices, such asfasteners. For example, first applied force 346, second applied force348 and/or third applied force 350 may result from attaching housing 306to base 302 using screws. Housing 306 may be adapted to reduce thedetrimental effects of applied bending forces by, for example,reinforcing first inside angle 340 and/or second inside angle 342. Forexample, the thickness of material in the vicinity of first inside angle340 and/or second inside angle 342 may be increased in order to increasethe stiffness of housing 306.

FIG. 4 illustrates a view of an interior cavity associated with anexemplary implementation of a fiber drop terminal employing an angledfiber management cavity, consistent with the principles of theinvention. FIG. 4 illustrates the interior cavity of stepped housing306. The interior cavity may include an incoming fiber group 402A-D, afirst central retainer 404, a second central retainer 406, a lowelevation retainer 408, fiber coils 410, a first high elevation retainer412, a second high elevation retainer 414, individual fibers 402A, B, Cand D, receptacle bodies 416A, B, C and D, a gasket 418, and fiberguides 420A and 420B.

Incoming fiber group 402A-D may include individual fibers 402A, B, C andD and may be received via incoming fiber bundle 318. First and secondcentral retainers 404 and 406 may include any device capable ofsubstantially retaining one or more fibers in a determined location. Forexample, first and second central retainers 404 and 406 may releasablyretain incoming fiber group 402A-D along a central portion of housing306, such as along the centerline of housing 306. First and secondcentral retainers 404 and 406 may be held in place via adhesive and/ormechanical fastening techniques. For example, first and second centralretainers 404 and 406 may employ fasteners, releasable fingers, fiberguides, tie wraps, hooks, channels, etc., for securing incoming fibergroup 402A-D. Therefore, any device capable of retaining a fiber at adesired location is contemplated by first and second central retainers404 and 406.

Excess fiber in incoming fiber group 402A-D may be stored in one or morefiber coils 410 within housing 306. Fiber coils 410 may be formed incooperation with low elevation retainer 408, first high elevationretainer 412 and second high elevation retainer 414. Low elevationretainer 408 may include any device capable of retaining one or morefibers at a determined location. First high elevation retainer 412 andsecond high elevation retainer 414 may include any device capable ofretaining one or more optical fibers at a determined location withrespect to, for example, low elevation retainer 408. For example, arelationship between first high elevation retainer 412 and low elevationretainer 408 may cause fiber coils 410 to be stored at an angularorientation within housing 306. Fiber coils 410 may have an upper coilportion 422 and/or a lower coil portion 424 resulting from therelationship of low elevation retainer 408 and/or first and second highelevation retainers 412 and 414.

Housing 306 may be configured so that fiber coils 410 are retained in amanner in accordance with a manufacturer suggested minimum bend radius,which may be one-half of diameter 426. Assume that a manufacturerspecifies that fibers 402A-D should have a recommended bend radius of atleast 1.5 inches. Fiber management portion 308 of housing 306 may beconfigured so that fiber coils 410 are retained at an angularorientation using low elevation retainer 408 and one or more firstand/or second high elevation retainers 412 and/or 414. The angledorientation of fiber coils 410 may facilitate achieving at least themanufacturer recommended minimum bend radius.

Fibers 402A-D may be terminated within housing 306 using, for example, alike number of receptacle bodies 416A-D. Receptacle bodies 416A-D mayinclude any device capable of terminating an optical fiber and makingsignals traversing the fiber available to another device, such as aconnector, and/or to a destination, such as a user premises. Receptaclebodies 416A-D may include connectors for mating a terminated fibers402A-D with a receptacle body and/or fiber 402A-D may be mated withreceptacle body 410A-D using a fused and/or adhesive based connection.

Housing 306 may include a gasket 418 located in a recess, or channel, tofacilitate a watertight seal with a base, such as base 302. Gasket 418may include any device capable of facilitating a moisture resistant sealwith a mating surface. For example, gasket 418 may include anelastomer-like material with or without adhesive, lubricant, and/orsealing compounds such as liquids and/or gels.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-section of an exemplary implementation of afiber drop terminal housing 306 employing a fiber management cavity forstoring fiber coils at an angled orientation, consistent with theprinciples of the invention. Housing 306 may include componentsillustrated and described in conjunction with FIGS. 3A, 3B and/or 4,such as input channel 316, output receptacle 310, incoming fiber bundle318, etc. Housing 306 may employ a first high elevation retainer 412 forretaining one or more fibers 402A-D. First high elevation retainer 412may be used individually and/or in combination with other fiberretention devices. First high elevation retainer 412 may be located instorage cavity 502 and may be slideably disposed in retainer mountingchannel 344 to variably position optical fibers 402A-D with respect tothe interior of housing 306.

As shown in FIG. 5, low elevation retainer 408 may operate with one ormore high elevation retainers 412 and/or 414 to retain fiber coils 410at an angled orientation 506 relative to storage cavity 502 and/or ahousing face 508. The use of angled orientation 506 may facilitatestorage of fiber coils 410 without violating a manufacturer recommendedbend radius. Implementations may employ angular orientations having awide range of angles with respect to a reference location, such ashousing face 508. In one implementation angular orientation 506 withrespect to housing face 508 may be on the order of 20° to 60° and inanother implementation may be on the order of 35° to 45°. Storing thefiber coils 410 at an angular orientation with respect to an outersurface of fiber drop terminal 300, as opposed to a planar orientationwith respect to an outer surface of terminal 300, advantageously enablesthe overall dimensions of fiber drop terminal 300 to be reduced, whilemaintaining a desired minimum bend radius. The orientation of the angledfiber coil 410 may be reversed so that the base of retainer mountingchannel 344 is associated with, for example, base 302 instead of with aface of housing face 306. Housing 306 may include dummy plug 504 toprotect output receptacle 310 when output connector 312 is notinstalled.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a fiber retentiondevice in accordance with an implementation consistent with theprinciples of the invention. The fiber retention device of FIG. 6 may beimplemented as retainer hook 600. Retainer hook 600 may include amounting post 602, a back face 604, a top face 606, and a retaining face608. Back face 604, top face 606, and retaining face 608 may form aninner channel 610 for receiving one or more optical fibers. Retainerhook 600 may include any device capable of retaining one or more opticalfibers in a desired position. Retainer hook 600 may be fabricated fromplastic, composite, metal, glass, or the like depending on the desiredproperties of hook 600. For example, fiber coils 410 may be placedwithin inner channel 610. Fiber coils 410 may be retained using theinner surface of retaining face 608. Tension present in fiber coils 410may facilitate retention of fiber coils 410 within inner channel 610.Retainer hook 600 may include mounting post 602. Mounting post 602 maybe adapted to facilitate adjusting a height of inner channel 610 withrespect to storage cavity 502 and/or another reference location.Mounting post 602 may be slideably disposed within retainer mountingchannel 344 (FIG. 3B and FIG. 5) for adjusting the height of innerchannel 610 with respect to a reference location.

Fiber management components, such as retainer mounting channel 344,first central retainer 404, low elevation retainer 408, and retainerhook 600 may be fabricated from plastic, composite, metal, rubber, andthe like. In one implementation, the fiber management components arefabricated from the same material used to make terminal 300 so thatfiber management components may have the same thermal coefficients as,for example, base 302 and housing 306. For example, base 302, housing306, and/or fiber management components may be fabricated frompolypropylene.

Terminal 300 may be used in utility pole mount installations whereincoming fiber bundle 318 approaches terminal 300 via a breakoutoriginating from a strand located above terminal 300. In thisconfiguration, terminal 300 may be adapted to receive incoming fiberbundle 318 from an input channel 316 located in an upper portion ofterminal 300. Alternatively, terminal 300 may have input channel 316located in a lower portion of terminal 300. When terminal 300 is adaptedfor bottom entry, an input cable may need to bypass the terminal on thepole and be looped on the pole for entry in the bottom of the terminal.One or more output receptacles may be arranged so as to discourage entryof precipitation as well as for channeling water away from receptacles310A-D. Output receptacles 310A-D may be mounted so as to facilitateaccess by a linesman having a desired angle of approach regardless ofwhether a bottom entry or top entry input channel 316 is used.

As used herein, angle of approach may broadly refer to an anticipateddirection and/or angle from which a linesman will approach and/or accessterminal 300, a mounting bracket, output receptacle 310, and/or outputconnector 312 when being connected to output receptacle 310 and/orremoved from output receptacle 310. An angle of approach may vary basedon a mounting location of terminal 300 (e.g., on a utility pole,pedestal, building, etc.), the orientation of terminal 300 (e.g.,horizontal mounting vs. vertical mounting), a method of approachutilized by a linesman (e.g., approach by ladder, bucket lift, and/orfoot), and/or a working position taken by a linesman when interactingwith terminal 300 (e.g., using one hand while the other hand holds aladder rung, and/or using two hands while in a bucket lift and/or whilestanding on grade). In addition, the angle of approach may take intoaccount the size of a connector and/or cable being coupled to an inputreceptacle and/or output receptacle 310, prevailing weather patterns,aesthetic appearance of the terminal 300, the number of connections onterminal 300, etc.

FIG. 7A illustrates an exemplary implementation of a fiber drop terminal700 that may include a fiber input channel located in a lower portion703 of terminal 700, consistent with the principles of the invention. InFIG. 7A, terminal 700 may include a lower input channel 702 forreceiving an incoming fiber bundle 318. Incoming fiber bundle 318 may besealed to lower input channel 702 to form a weather tight interfaceusing, for example, potting, over-molding, sealant, and/or weather tightfeed-throughs. Terminal 700 may facilitate shedding water away fromlower input channel 702 by placing input channel 702 proximate to alower portion 703 of terminal 700 when mounted to, for example, autility pole. If incoming fiber bundle 318 is received from a suspendedstrand, incoming fiber bundle 318 may have to be run alongside terminal700 and looped upwards, while maintaining a determined bend radius, topass fiber bundle 318 into lower input channel 702.

FIG. 7B illustrates an exemplary implementation of a fiber drop terminal704 including a fiber input channel located in an upper portion 705 ofterminal 704, consistent with the principles of the invention. In FIG.7B, terminal 704 may include an upper input channel 706 for receiving anincoming fiber bundle 318. Fiber bundle 318 may be sealed to upper inputchannel 706 using, for example, potting, over-molding, sealant, and/orweather tight feed-throughs. An implementation, such as terminal 704,may facilitate running an incoming fiber bundle 318 received from, forexample, a suspended strand, into upper input channel 706 withoutrequiring undue bending of incoming fiber bundle 318.

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate the exemplary implementations of FIGS. 7A and7B, respectively, in combination with ruggedized multi-fiber inputconnectors to facilitate a removable interconnection between an incomingfiber bundle 318 and/or an output connector, such as output connector312, consistent with the principles of the invention. In FIG. 8A,terminal 800 may include a housing 801 and an input receptacle 802 forreceiving an input connector 804. Input receptacle 802 may include anydevice capable of mating with a connector. Input connector 804 mayinclude any device capable of making optical signals present in one ormore optical fibers available to another device. In one implementation,input receptacle 802 may provide a weather tight seal when coupled toinput connector 804. Input receptacle 802 may be capped using a dummyinput plug when input connector 804 is not present. Terminal 800 mayinclude input receptacle 802 located at a lower portion of terminal 800.Input receptacle 802 may be adapted to facilitate shedding of water froma mating area of input receptacle 802 and input connector 804 using, forexample, o-ring seals.

In FIG. 8B, terminal 806 may include an input receptacle 802 forreceiving an input connector 804. Input receptacle 802 may be located inan upper portion of terminal 806. Locating input receptacle 802 in anupper portion of terminal 806 may facilitate direct routing of anincoming fiber bundle to input receptacle 802 without requiring thatincoming fiber bundle 318 be bent in, for example, a loop before matinginput connector 804 to input receptacle 802. The implementations ofFIGS. 8A and 8B may allow for the installation of ruggedized inputconnectors on an incoming fiber bundle 318 at the time a multi-strandfiber optic cable is manufactured. For example, if an incoming fiberbundle 318 includes four optical fibers, input connector 804 may beadapted to make optical signals traversing the four fibers available toa like number of optical fibers associated with input receptacle 802.Input connector 804 may be capped using a dummy receptacle to protectoptical fibers within the connector when not in use. A dummy receptaclemay provide a weather tight seal and may be removed when input connector804 is coupled to terminal 800 and/or 806. The implementations of FIGS.8A and 8B may facilitate economic fabrication of fiber drops whileproviding a way to keep connectors and/or input receptacles sealed untilthey are needed. While implementations associated with FIGS. 8A and 8Bhave illustrated input receptacle 802 as located in a lower portion oran upper portion of terminal 800 and 806, input receptacle 802 may belocated elsewhere. For example, input receptacle 802 may be located on aside of terminal 800 and/or 806 and/or on a front surface and/or base ofterminal 800 and/or terminal 806.

FIG. 8C illustrates an overhead view of an exemplary implementation ofthe fiber drop terminals of FIG. 8A and/or 8B showing fiber retentionand/or routing techniques that may be employed within terminal 800and/or 806, respectively, consistent with the principles of theinvention. The implementation of FIG. 8C may include a housing 801, anincoming fiber bundle 318, first and second central retainer 404, 406,first and second high elevation retainer 412 and/or 414, an inputreceptacle 802, an input connector 804, a breakout device 810, opticalfibers 808A-D. Housing 306, incoming fiber bundle 318, first centralretainer 404 and/or second central retainer 406, first and second highelevation retainer 412 and 414, input receptacle 802 and input connector804 may be substantially configured, dimensioned and/or arranged aspreviously described.

Breakout device 810 may include any device capable of receiving anoptical signal and making that signal available to one or more opticalfibers. Breakout device 810 may be integral with input receptacle 802,such as via molding input receptacle 802 to breakout device 810 and/orbreakout device 810 may be removeably attached to input receptacle 802,such as if breakout device 810 is coupled to input receptacle 802 usinga keyed attachment mechanism. In one implementation, input receptacle802 may receive signals associated with four optical fibers, breakoutdevice 810 may convey the respective signals to optical fibers 808A-D.Optical fibers 808A-D may have respective proximal ends and distal ends.The proximal ends of optical fibers 808A-D may be coupled to breakoutdevice 810 and the distal ends may be associated with one or more outputreceptacles 310. For example, housing 306 may accommodate four outputreceptacles. In one implementation, optical fiber 808A may be associatedwith a first output receptacle, optical fiber 808B may be associatedwith a second output receptacle, optical fiber 808C may be associatedwith a third output receptacle, and optical fiber 808D may be associatedwith a fourth output receptacle.

Optical fibers 808A-D may be routed inside housing 306 using firstcentral retainer 404 and/or second central retainer 406 and first andsecond high elevation retainer 412 and 414. Optical fibers 808A-D may becut longer than necessary to reach from breakout device 810 to one ormore output receptacles, such as output receptacles 310A-D. Excess fiberassociated with optical fibers 808A-D may be placed in fiber coilsusing, for example, low elevation retainer 408 (not shown in FIG. 8C)and/or first and second high elevation retainer 412 and 414. The fibercoils may be arranged in accordance with manufacturer specified minimumbend radii associated with optical fibers 808A-D. Distal ends of opticalfibers 808A-D may have connectors attached thereto for coupling to alike number of receptacle bodies, such as receptacle bodies 416A-Dand/or the distal ends may be left bare and fused/spliced to receptaclebodies.

Components used with fiber drop terminals may exert internal and/orexternal loads on the fiber drop terminal. For example, incoming fiberbundle 318, output connector 312, and/or output fiber 314 may impartloads and/or stresses on terminal 300. In some situations, these loadsand/or stresses may be transferred directly portions of terminal 300.Loads and/or stresses applied to terminal 300 may increase and/ordecrease due to sagging cables, cables subject to wind loads and/orcables subject to ice loads. Constant and/or varying loads and/orstresses may lead to formation of stress cracks on portions of terminal300. For example, stress cracks may form at stress concentration pointson terminal 300, such as proximate to first transition region 334,second transition region 338, first inside angle 340, and/or secondinside angle 342. Implementations may employ reinforcing techniques tomitigate loads and/or stresses associated with implementations of fiberdrop terminals, such as terminal 300.

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate an exemplary implementation of a fiber dropterminal having a reinforced housing that may include reinforcinggussets at locations that may be associated with regions of adversestress, consistent with the principles of the invention. Reinforcedhousing 900 (FIG. 9A) may include an external gusset 902 and/or anexternal housing rib 904. External gusset 902 may include any devicecapable of providing a retention force between two surfaces joined at anintersection and forming an angle. For example, external gusset 902 mayspan valley 906 by contacting first stepped face 908 and/or firsttransition region 910 and/or second stepped face 912 and/or secondtransition region 914 (FIG. 9A). External gusset 902 may operate toincrease the rigidity of first stepped face 908, second stepped face 912and/or valley 906. External gusset 902 may be molded with reinforcedhousing 900, held in place via adhesive and/or mechanical fasteners.External gusset 902 may be implemented as a pair with one gusset locatedproximate to a first outer edge 918 of reinforced housing 900 and theother gusset located proximate to a second outer edge 920 of reinforcedhousing 900. External gusset 902 may be adapted so as to not interferewith output receptacle 310 and/or output connector 312.

Implementations of reinforced housing 900 may utilize one or moreinternal gussets in addition to, or in lieu of, external gusset 902.Internal gussets may be located proximate to valley 906 within an innercavity associated with reinforced housing 900. Inner gussets may operateto reinforce valley 906 to reduce detrimental effects of loads and/orstresses applied to reinforced housing. Implementations may reinforcevalley 906 and/or housing portions proximate thereto by increasing thethickness of material used to form valley 906 and/or housing portionsproximate thereto. The cross-section of valley 906 may be increased inconjunction with the use of gusset 902 or the cross-section of valley906 may be increased in place of employing gusset 902. Implementationsmay also employ standoffs spanning from an inner point of valley 906,located within an inner cavity of terminal 900, to a base. Standoffs maybe configured and dimensioned so as to exert a force on a portion of abase when a housing of terminal 900 is attached to the base. Loadsassociated with valley 906 may be transferred via the standoff to thebase and/or to a mounting bracket associated with a base.

Implementations of reinforced housing 900 may include an externalhousing rib 904 to increase the stiffness associated with a side ofreinforced housing 900. For example, one or more external housing ribs904 may be arranged substantially perpendicular to a mounting face 916.An external housing rib 904 may operate to increase the cross section ofreinforced housing 900 proximate to an area of potentially adverse loadand/or stress. Reinforced housing 900 may include internal housing ribsin addition to, or in lieu of, external housing ribs 904 and/or externalgusset 902.

Analytical tools such as finite element modeling can be used foranalyzing an existing enclosure design and/or for designing newenclosures so as to minimize the likelihood of load and/or stressrelated failures. For example, finite element modeling may be used toidentify an implementation of a stepped-face enclosure wherein fastenersand their corresponding attachment structures are located so as tocoincide with locations of high stress, such as for example, at eitherend of a valley 906. In particular, the fasteners can be used to attachthe enclosure to a base in a manner providing reinforcement to thevalley 906.

FIG. 10A illustrates an exemplary implementation of an enclosure matingsurface utilizing a gasket device to facilitate a weatherproof sealbetween a housing and a base, consistent with the principles of theinvention. The implementation illustrated in FIG. 10A may include, anenclosure base 1002, an enclosure housing 1004, a gasket 1006, a baserib 1008, a channel 1010, a housing mating surface 1012, a first housingrib 1014, and a second housing rib 1016.

Enclosure housing 1004 may be similar in shape, design and/or materialcomposition to housing 306. Enclosure housing 1004 may include an uppersurface and a lower surface. The upper surface may have an outer surfaceexposed to the elements and an inner surface forming an inner cavity forhousing fiber pigtails. The upper surface of enclosure housing 1004 mayinclude output receptacles and/or output connectors. The lower surfaceof enclosure housing 1004 may include a mating surface 1012. Matingsurface 1012 may be substantially flat so as to form a weather tightseal with enclosure base 1002 and/or gasket 1006. Enclosure housing 1004may include a first housing rib 1014 and/or a second housing rib 1016extending from a portion of mating surface 1012. First housing rib 1014and/or second housing rib 1016 may operate with mating surface 1012 tocause a deformation of gasket 1006 when enclosure housing 1004 is matedto enclosure base 1002 using, for example, threaded fasteners.

Enclosure base 1002 may be similar to base 302 in shape, design and/ormaterial composition. Enclosure base 1002 may include a substantiallycontinuous channel 1010 running proximate to a perimeter of enclosurebase 1002. Channel 1010 may be configured to receive gasket 1006.Channel 1010 may be sized so that gasket 1006 extends slightly beyondthe surfaces of enclosure base 1002 that gasket 1006 may contact housingmating surface 1012 when enclosure housing 1004 is mated to enclosurebase 1002. Enclosure base 1002 may include a base rib 1008 forfacilitating deformation of gasket 1006 when enclosure housing 1004 ismated to enclosure base 1002.

FIG. 10B illustrates the mating surface of the exemplary implementationof FIG. 10A in greater detail, consistent with the principles of theinvention. In addition to the elements shown in FIG. 10A, theimplementation of FIG. 10B may include a first inner wall 1018, a lowerwall 1020, a second inner wall 1022, an inner void 1024 and an outervoid 1026. When gasket 1006 is uncompressed, as shown in FIG. 10B, aninner void 1024 and outer void 1026 may be present. When housing matingsurface 1012, in combination with first housing rib 1014 and second bodyrib 216, applies pressure to a first side of gasket 1006 and base 1002,in combination with base rib 1008, applies pressure to gasket 1006 froma second side, gasket 1006 may expand laterally to fill inner void 1024and/or outer void 1026. When compressed, gasket 1006 may exertsufficient pressure on mating surface 1012 and the inner walls ofchannel 1010, namely first inner wall 1018, second inner wall 1022 andlower wall 1020, to prevent moisture from entering an inner cavity 1030of housing 1004.

First housing rib 1014, second housing rib 1016 and/or base rib 1008 mayoperate to facilitate a lateral expansion of gasket 1006. First housingrib 1014, second housing rib 1016 and/or base rib 1008 may serve to forma circuitous path for moisture and/or condensed vapor proximate tomating surface 1012, gasket 1006, and channel 11010. Gasket 1006 may beused dry and/or with gasket sealants and/or lubricants known in the art.In one implementation, gasket 1006 may have a substantially rectangularcross-section when uncompressed. Uniform expansion of gasket 1006 helpsfacilitate a waterproof seal. In an alternative implementation, channel1010 and gasket 1006 may be disposed in enclosure housing 1004.

Implementations may facilitate correct installation on a mountingstructure, such as a utility pole, by using a mounting bracket that isattached to the mounting structure using a tool, such as a hammer. Afiber drop terminal, such as terminal 300, may be attached to themounting bracket without requiring tools. The risk of damage to a fiberdrop terminal may be reduced when installation of the terminal to amounting bracket and/or a mounting structure may take place without theuse tools. Implementations may employ a relatively uncomplicated lockingand/or retaining mechanism for removeably coupling the fiber dropterminal to the mounting bracket.

FIG. 11A illustrates an exemplary implementation of a mounting bracketthat may be used to attach an implementation of a fiber drop terminal toa substantially vertical surface, consistent with the principles of theinvention. FIG. 11A may include a mounting bracket 1102, a fastener 1104and a utility pole 1106. Mounting bracket 1102 may include any devicecapable of receiving a fiber drop terminal and coupling the fiber dropterminal to a mounting structure. Fastener 1104 may include any devicecapable of securing mounting bracket 1102 to a mounting structure, suchas utility pole 1106. Utility pole 1106 may include any mountingstructure capable of supporting mounting bracket 1102 and/or a fiberdrop terminal.

Mounting bracket 1102 may be removeably coupled to utility pole 1106using fasteners 1104. Mounting bracket 1102 may be fabricated frommetal, plastic, composite, etc. Fastener 1104 may include attachmentdevices such as screws, nails, rivets, etc. Mounting bracket 1102 may bemounted on utility pole 1106 using tools, such as a hammer, screwdriver, rivet gun, etc.

FIG. 11B illustrates an exemplary implementation of a fiber dropterminal mounted to a substantially vertical surface via the mountingbracket illustrated in FIG. 11A, consistent with the principles of theinvention. Fiber drop terminal 1110 may include any device capable ofreceiving an optical signal from an incoming optical fiber and makingthe signal available to an outgoing optical fiber. Fiber drop terminal1110 may be coupled to mounting bracket 1102 after the bracket isattached to utility pole 1106 without the use of tools. For example,fiber drop terminal 1110 may be attached to mounting bracket 1102 usingcable ties and/or other fastening techniques known in the art.

FIG. 11C illustrates an exemplary technique for attaching the fiber dropterminal of FIG. 11B to the bracket of FIG. 11A, consistent with theprinciples of the invention. FIG. 11C may include mounting bracket 1102,fastener 1104, utility pole 1106, mounting post 1112A and 1112B, fiberdrop terminal 1110, and keyed receptacles 1114A and 1114B. Mountingbracket 1102 may be mounted as described in conjunction with FIGS. 11Aand 11B. Fiber drop terminal 1110 may include one or more mounting posts1112A and 1112B. Mounting posts 1112A and 1112B may include any devicecapable of releasably coupling fiber drop terminal 1110 to a mountingbracket 1102. For example, fiber drop terminal 1110 may include a firstmounting post located near the top of the terminal and a second mountingpost located near the bottom of the terminal. Mounting posts 1112A and1112B may operate as part of a keyed coupling technique for couplingfiber drop terminal 1110 to mounting bracket 1102. Keyed receptacle1114A and 1114B may be configured to receive mounting post 1112A and1112B, respectively. For example, mounting post 1112A and 1112B may eachhave a head attached to a shaft where the head has a larger diameterthan the shaft. Keyed receptacles 1114A and 1114B may include a topportion having a large opening capable of receiving the head and a lowerportion including smaller opening capable of receiving the shaft but notthe head. The heads on mounting post 1112A and 1112B may be passedthrough the large opening and displaced so that the mounting post shaftsslide into the smaller keyed receptacle openings. Fiber drop terminal1110 may be releasably coupled to mounting bracket 1102 when the shaftis located in the lower portion of the keyed receptacle opening. Fiberdrop terminal 1110 may be displaced in a direction substantially opposedto the direction used for installation in order to disengage fiber dropterminal 1110 from mounting bracket 1102.

FIG. 11D illustrates an exemplary implementation of a base module 1103having self-alignment channels to facilitate self-alignment of a fiberdrop terminal with a mounting bracket, consistent with the principles ofthe invention. Implementations of a fiber drop terminal 1110 may includea base 1103 having one or more channels for mateably coupling fiber dropterminal 1110 to a mounting bracket, such as mounting bracket 1102. Thechannels may be arranged on a mounting bracket side 1111 of base 1103,which may oppose a housing side 1109. Base 1103 may include an upperchannel 1105 and a lower channel 1107. Upper channel 1105 and lowerchannel 1107 may be configured to mate with, for example, one or moreprotuberances on mounting bracket 1102. The protuberances may beconfigured and dimensioned to mate upper channel 1105 and lower channel1107 to mounting bracket 1102. When upper channel 1105 and/or lowerchannel 1107 are mated with mounting bracket 1102, fiber drop terminal1110 may be retained in a desired position. Upper channel 1105 and/orlower channel 1107 may provide a self-alignment feature when mating afiber drop terminal base and/or housing to mounting bracket 1102.Self-aligning mounting devices may include locking devices, frictionbased retaining devices, keyed retaining devices, etc. for supportingfiber drop terminal 1110 on mounting bracket 1102.

Implementations employing mounting brackets may be configured to receiveincoming signals from one or more locations on a fiber drop terminal.For example, an incoming fiber bundle may enter a fiber drop terminalfrom the top and/or the bottom.

FIG. 11E illustrates the exemplary enclosure of FIG. 11B along with anexemplary implementation of a top entry fiber optic connector,consistent with the principles of the invention. FIG. 11E illustrates afiber drop terminal 1110 including a multi-fiber input cable 1120, aninput connector 1116, and a strain relief 1118. Fiber drop terminal 1110may include an input receptacle mounted in a top portion of a terminalhousing. Input connector 1116 may couple optical signals associated withone or more optical fibers to one or more components associated withfiber drop terminal 1110. Input connector 1116 may be coupled to amulti-fiber input cable 1120. Strain relief 1118 may be molded and/orpotted to multi-fiber input cable 1120 and/or input connector 1116 toprovide strain relief to the one or more optical fibers passing throughinput connector 1116. For example, multi-fiber input cable 1116 mayinclude an outer jacket that protects fibers within the cable and/oroperates as a structural member for reducing the risk of damage duringhandling and/or installation. Strain relief 1118 may be over-molded tothe outer jacket and to an outer surface of input connector 1116. Strainrelief 1118 may operate to prevent undue flexing of the optical fibersin the vicinity of input connector 1116. Input connector 1116, strainrelief 1118 and/or an input receptacle may operate to provide awaterproof connection to fiber drop terminal 1110. Running incomingsignals into a top portion of fiber drop terminal 1110 may eliminate theneed to bend an input cable prior to connecting input connector 1116 toan input receptacle or terminal 1110.

FIG. 11F illustrates the exemplary enclosure of FIG. 11B along with anexemplary implementation of a bottom entry fiber optic connector,consistent with the principles of the invention. FIG. 11F illustratesfiber drop terminal 1110 in an implementation employing an inputreceptacle located in a bottom portion of the terminal. In FIG. 11F,multi-fiber input cable 1120 enters the bottom of fiber drop terminal1110. The implementation of FIG. 11F may be desirable in certainsituations, such as when it is desirable to discourage water and/or iceaccumulation in the vicinity of input connector 1116 and an inputreceptacle interface on terminal 1110.

Implementations may be installed in outdoor environments for extendedperiods of time and may be exposed to high and low temperature extremes.Over time, housing 1004 and/or base 1002 may stick to gasket 1006 insuch a way that it may be difficult for a linesman to remove the housingfrom the base 1002 without using a prying device, such as a coin, knife,screw driver, pliers, putty knife, wrench, etc. Implementations may beconfigured to facilitate separating the housing from a base using aprying device without risking damage to optical fibers within a fiberdrop terminal.

FIG. 12A illustrates a first exemplary implementation of a fiber dropterminal 1200 that may include pry tabs for facilitating removal of anenclosure housing from a base, consistent with the principles of theinvention. The implementation of FIG. 12A may include a base 1202, ahousing 1206, a first pry tab 1208, a second pry tab 1210, a firstintegrated hole 1212, a second integrated hole 1214, a first pry gap1216 and a second pry gap 1218.

Base 1202 and housing 1206 may be configured in substantially the samemanner as base 302 and/or housing 306. First pry tab 1208 and second prytab 1210 may include any device configured to provide a prying surfacefor facilitating removal of housing 1206 from base 1202. For example,first pry tab 1208 and second pry tab 1210 may be include protrusions,or tabs, molded onto housing 1206 and having a thickness and/or rigiditysufficient to facilitate separating housing 1206 from base 1202 when aprying device is operated therewith. For example, the tip of ascrewdriver may be placed between an underside of first pry tab 1208 andbase 1202. The screwdriver may be operated to separate housing 1206 frombase 1202 without damaging incoming optical fibers, input connectors,and/or optical pigtails located inside housing 1206.

First pry tab 1208 and second pry tab 1210 may, respectively, includefirst integrated hole 1212 and second integrated hole 1214. Firstintegrated hole 1212 and second integrated hole 1214 may be configuredand arranged to operate as retaining components receiving a retainingdevice such as a tie wrap, wire tie, string, chain, tape, etc., forsecuring housing 1206 to base 1202 when housing 1206 has been separatedfrom base 1202 using a prying device.

FIG. 12B illustrates a second exemplary implementation of a fiber dropterminal 1230 employing pry tabs, consistent with the principles of theinvention. The implementation of FIG. 12B may include the features ofthe implementation of FIG. 12A with the addition of a housing pry tab1232 and a base pry tab 1234. Housing pry tab 1232 and base pry tab 1234may be configured similar to first pry tab 1208 and second pry tab 1210.Housing pry tab 1232 and base pry tab 1234 may be located substantiallyalong a centerline of terminal 1230. Housing pry tab 1232 and base prytab 1234 may be located along housing 1238 and/or base 1234 at otherlocations. For example, housing pry tab 1232 and base pry tab 1234 maybe located at a first alternative location located, for example, along aside of terminal 1230.

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a fiber drop terminal1300 including recessed pockets for supporting output receptacles thatmay be adapted to receive output connectors, consistent with theprinciples of the invention. The implementation of FIG. 13 may consistof a fiber drop terminal 1300 that includes a housing 1306 and a base1302. Housing 1306 may include a front surface 1308, an input receptacle1310, a receptacle pocket 1312, an output receptacle 1314, a rear base1316, an output dummy plug 1318, a receptacle plug 1320, an o-ring 1322,a retaining lead 1324, and a stiffening rib 1326.

Housing 1306 may include any device of receiving signals from an inputcable, such as incoming bundle 318, including one or more optical fibersand may make those signals available to one or more output connectorsvia one or more output receptacles 1314. Input receptacle 1310 may besimilar to input receptacle 802. A receptacle plug 1320 may be providedto sealably protect fibers within input receptacle 1310 from dirt andmoisture contamination. Receptacle plug 1320 may be equipped with asealing device such as o-ring 1322 to facilitate a weatherproof seal. Aretaining lead 1324 may be attached between housing 1306 and receptacleplug 1320 to captively retain plug 1320 when it is removed fromreceptacle 1310. Retaining lead 1324 can be made from wire rope, wire,plastic, rubber, and the like using crimped connectors, adhesive, orknots to complete attachment to housing 1306 and plug 1320.

Housing 1306 may be configured to provide structural rigidity, watertightness, and user access via one or more receptacle pockets 1312.Housing 1306 may be fabricated from ultraviolet resistant (UV-resistant)plastic using injection molding techniques known in the art. Housing1306 may be equipped with one or more stiffening ribs 1326 that mayserver to increase the structural rigidity of housing 1306. Stiffeningribs 1326 may be located substantially on the exterior of the housing1306 and/or substantially on the interior. Housing 1306 may be designedto sealably mate with base 1302 to form a weather tight seal along thejunction of housing 1306 and base 1302.

Receptacle pocket 1312 may include a rear base 1316 for supporting anoutput receptacle 1314. A front portion of rear base 1316 may have asubstantially flat surface for receiving output receptacle 1314 and arear portion that may transition into front surface 1308. Receptaclepocket 1312 and/or rear base 1316 may be configured to have an angularrelationship with, for example, front surface 1308. Receptacle pocket1312 may facilitate mounting output receptacle 1314 at a variety ofangles for facilitating ergonomic access to output receptacle 1314 by alinesman when working with terminal 1300, such as when coupling anoutput connector 1328 to an output receptacle 1314. In addition,corresponding rows 1350 of output receptacles 1314 may be deployed intiers so as to facilitate visual inspection by the linesman working froman anticipated angle of approach. Furthermore, pockets 1312 may bearranged so as to discourage precipitation from entering outputreceptacles 1314. For example, if terminal 1300 is mounted on a utilitypole in a vertical orientation, output receptacles 1314 may be orientedso as to generally be directed downward toward the base of a utilitypole.

Implementations of terminal 1300 may employ output receptacle mountingangles in the range of 10° to 45° as measured from front surface 1308 ofhousing 1306. In certain implementations of housing 1306, receptaclemounting angles in the range of 25° to 30° may be used.

Receptacle pocket 1312 may include a rear base 1316 for providing asubstantially planar surface through which output receptacle 1314 may bemounted. Rear base 1316, or receptacle mounting surface, may alsofunction to provide additional stiffness to the interface between outputreceptacle 1314 and housing 1306. Employing receptacle pockets 1312 mayserve to reduce and/or eliminate areas of stress that may be encounteredin implementations employing, for example, a stepped face design.

An output connector 1328 may used in conjunction with output receptacle1314. Output connector 1328 may be communicatively coupled to an outputcable 1330 that includes at least one optical fiber for conveyingoptical signals to a customer. Connector 1328 may employ a strain relief1332 in the vicinity of the transition to cable 1330 to provide strengthand prevent excessive bending of the fiber contained within cable 1330.

Base 1302 may include one or more mounting/standoff flanges 1334 tofacilitate mounting of terminal 1300 at a determined orientation withrespect to a mounting structure. Base 1302 may include one or more basestiffening ribs 1336. Housing 1306 may also be used to facilitatemounting terminal 1300 using retaining holes 1338. Retaining holes 1338may receive fasteners such as nails, screws, tie wraps, wire ties, etc.,and can also be used for moveably securing housing 1306 to base 1302during servicing.

Retaining holes 1338 may also serve as part of pry tab such as thatshown in conjunction with FIGS. 12A and 12B to facilitate separation ofhousing 1306 from base 1302 and/or a gasket running in a channelassociated with base 1302, such as the channel shown in conjunction withFIGS. 10A and 10B.

Implementations of terminal 1300 may be further designed so as to attachto brackets such as those shown in conjunction with FIG. 11A. Terminal1300 may be configured so that housing 1306 may be removed while base1302 remains attached to a mounting bracket and/or mounting structure.If terminal 1300 may be mounted on strands, weight can be added to areasof base 1302 and/or housing 1306 so as to cause terminal 1300 to remainat a desired orientation, e.g., substantially parallel to the groundwith the terminal 1300 hanging directly below the strand to facilitateergonomic access by a linesman working from an expected angle ofapproach.

FIGS. 14A-C illustrate various aspects of an exemplary implementation ofa fiber drop terminal 1400 having tiered receptacles mounted on faceshaving an angular association with each other, consistent with theprinciples of the invention. Referring to FIG. 14A, fiber drop terminal1400 may include a first row of output receptacles 1402, a second row ofoutput receptacles 1404, an input receptacle 1406, a dummy plug 1408,output receptacles 1410A-H, a first face 1412, a second face 1414, afirst back surface 1416, a second back surface 1418, a first end surface1420, a second end surface 1422, a common interface 1424, a receptaclepocket 1426, and a receptacle supporting surface 1428.

Terminal 1400 may include any device capable of receiving an incomingoptical fiber and making a signal present thereon available to an outputreceptacle. Terminal 1400 may be fabricated in a manner consistent withterminals as described in conjunction with FIGS. 3A and 13. Terminal1400 may include one or more output receptacles 1410A-H arranged infirst row 1402 and/or second row 1404. First row 1402 may be associatedwith a first face 1412 and second row 1404 may be associated with asecond face 1414. First face 1412 and second faces 1414 may meet along acommon interface, or seam, 1424 at an angle referred to as a matingangle. The mating angle may be selected so as to present first face 1412and/or second face 1414 to a linesman in a manner not requiring that thelinesman maneuver in an awkward manner when accessing terminal 1400. Forexample, terminal 1400 may be mounted to a horizontal strand proximateto a utility pole. First face 1412 and/or second face 1414 may beconfigured so as to allow access to output receptacles 1410A-H withoutrequiring that the linesman crane his/her neck and/or lean in an unsafemanner when inspecting, accessing, or handling terminal 1400.

Output receptacles 1410A-H may respectively be associated with areceptacle pocket 1426. Receptacle pocket 1426 may have a receptaclesupporting surface 1428 for receiving output receptacles 1410A-H.Receptacle pocket 1426 and/or receptacle supporting surface 1428 mayoperate to make output receptacles 1410A-H available to a linesman at adetermined angle. The determined angle may be a function of the locationwhere terminal 1400 may be mounted and/or an assumed angle of approachused by a linesman when accessing terminal 1400. Output receptacles1410A-H may be fitted with dummy plug 1408 to prevent dirt and moisturefrom contacting optical fibers within output receptacles 1410A-H. Dummyplug 1408 may be removed when an output connector is mated to outputreceptacles 1410A-H.

First end surface 1420, second end surface 1422, first back surface1416, and second back surface 1418 may operate in conjunction with firstface 1412 and second face 1414 to form a watertight enclosure. Terminal1400 may include an input receptacle 1406 for receiving an inputconnector associated with an incoming fiber bundle.

FIGS. 14B and 14C illustrate additional views of terminal 1400,consistent with implementations and principles of the invention.Implementations of terminal 1400 may be attached to mounting bracketsadapted for, and/or attached to, utility poles, suspended strands,walls, fiber distribution hubs, and the like. Implementations ofterminal 1400 may further employ receptacle orientations, tierarrangements, mating angles, overall lengths, and/or overall widths thatvary according to particular installation locations, installationorientations, and/or anticipated angles of approach.

FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a fiber drop terminal1500 having output receptacles and contoured surfaces associated withreceptacle pocket areas, consistent with the principles of theinvention. Terminal 1500 may include a housing 1506, a contoured surface1508, a ridge 1510, an output receptacle opening 1512, a receptaclemounting surface 1514, an input receptacle opening 1516, an integratedhole 1518, a housing pry tab 1520, and a fiber storage portion 1522.

Terminal 1500 may include any device capable of receiving an incomingoptical fiber and making a signal present thereon available to an outputreceptacle. Terminal 1400 may be fabricated in a manner consistent withterminals as described in conjunction with FIGS. 3A, 13 and 14A-C.Terminal 1500 may include a housing 1506 and a base that can bemanufactured using, for example, injection molding techniques known inthe art. Housing 1506 may for an internal cavity that can include afiber storage portion 1522. Fiber storage portion 1522 may accommodateexcess fiber in coils retained in a substantially flat orientationand/or maintained in an angular orientation, such as the angularorientation described in conjunction with FIG. 5. Housing 1506 mayinclude one or more output receptacles that may be associated with acontoured surface 1508 and/or a receptacle mounting surface 1514.

Contoured surface 1508 may be located proximate to output receptacleopening 1512. Contoured surface 1508 may be configured, dimensioned andarranged to facilitate shedding of water that contacts the outer surfaceof housing 1506. Contoured surface 1508 may operate to discourage icebuild up around the interface of an output receptacle in receptacleopening 1512 and/or an output connector, such as output connector 312.Contoured surface 1508 may be designed to shed water for a particularmounting orientation, such as on a utility pole, or it may be designedto facilitate shedding of water for a plurality of mountingorientations, such as for both a horizontal mounting on a strand and avertical mounting on a utility pole. When output receptacle pairs areused, such as shown in FIG. 15, a ridge 1510 may be utilized between twocontoured surfaces 1508 to facilitate removal of water from aroundoutput receptacle opening 1512.

Implementations employing contoured surface 1508 may include featuresassociated with other implementations of drop terminals. For example,terminal 1500 may include pry tab 1520, one or more integrated holes1518 that may be used for securing housing 1506 to a base duringservicing, an input receptacle opening 1516, a receptacle mountingsurface 1514, angled coil storage inside housing 1506, etc.Implementations of terminal 1500 may employ input receptacle opening1516 proximate to a lower portion of housing 1506 and/or proximate to anupper portion of housing 1506 for receiving an incoming fiber bundle.

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary implementation of a fiber drop terminal1600 employing a cylindrical enclosure, consistent with the principlesof the invention. Cylindrical terminal 1600 may include, among otherthings, an input end cap 1602 having an input receptacle 1604, a firstoutput section 1606 having a first plurality of output receptacles1608A, 1608B, a second output section 1610 having a second plurality ofoutput receptacles 1608C, 1608D, 1608E and a storage end cap 1614.Cylindrical terminal 1600 may offer structural rigidity in a spaceefficient package due to the cylindrical shape of the terminal. Thecylindrical shape of terminal 1600 may facilitate passage throughpulleys used to deploy strands on utility poles and/or below grade.Cylindrical terminal 1600 may include sections that can be mated asneeded to produce a terminal having a desired number of receptacles1608.

Input end cap 1602 may be molded from plastic and may include an inputreceptacle 1604 for receiving an input connector containing multipleoptical fibers. In one implementation, input receptacle 1604 may utilizea number of fibers matching the number of output receptacles. Input endcap 1602 may include an outer surface and inner surface with the innersurface forming an input cavity. Input end cap 1602 may include a inputend cap mating surface 1616 for mating input end cap 1602 to firstoutput section 1606. Fibers may run from input receptacle 1604 throughthe input cavity of input end cap 1602 en route to first output section1606. Fibers associated with input receptacle 1604 may be protected fromthe elements when terminal 1600 is assembled. Input end cap 1602 mayinclude an input channel in lieu of an input receptacle 1604.

First output section 1606 may be molded from plastic and may include oneor more receptacle pockets 1620 disposed around an outer surface ofoutput section 1606. Receptacle pockets 1620 may include a receptaclesupporting surface having an opening for receiving output receptacle1608A and/or 1608B. Receptacle pockets 1620 may be separated by adetermined spacing that may be measured as a distance and/or as a numberof degrees. For example, if two output receptacles are used on an outputsection the receptacles may be separated by 180° with respect to acenterline of terminal 1600. If four output receptacles are used, theoutput receptacles may be separated by 90°.

First output section 1606 may include a first mating surface 1622A and asecond mating surface 1622B. First mating surface 1622A may beconfigured and dimensioned to mate with input end cap mating surface1616. A weather tight seal may be produced when input end cap 1602 andfirst output section 1606 are mated together. First output section 1606may be shaped so as to have an inner volume for housing optical fibersreceived from input end cap 1602 and for housing fibers passing throughfirst output section 1606 en route to second output section 1610. Firstoutput section 1606 may include one or more output receptacles 1608A,1608B arranged in receptacle pockets 1620. First and second matingsurfaces 1622A, 1622B may be substantially symmetrical and may beconfigured and dimensioned to form weather tight seals with adjacentsections.

Second output section 1610 may include a third mating surface 1624A anda fourth mating surface 1624B. Second output section 1610 may besubstantially similar to first output section 1606 in form and/orfunction. In one implementation, second output section 1610 may includethe same number of output receptacles that are present in first outputsection 1606. When first and second output sections 1606, 1610 are matedtogether, output receptacles on one section may be offset from outputreceptacles on a neighboring section by an angular offset 1626. Angularoffset 1626 may be selected to facilitate access to substantially alloutput receptacles associated with terminal 1600. Assume that eachoutput section 1606, 1610 contains four output receptacles 1608 havingrelative spacings of approximately 90° with respect to each other. Whenterminal 1600 is assembled, first output section 1606 may be offset byapproximately 45° with respect to second output section 1610 so thatreceptacle 1608D is aligned substantially between output receptacles1608A and 1608B. Terminal 1600 may include substantially any number ofoutput receptacles and can be realized by coupling additional outputsections together.

Storage end cap 1614 may include an outer surface and an inner surfacewith the inner surface defining an inner cavity that can be used forstoring excess optical fiber. Storage end cap 1614 may utilize fiberguides, retaining hooks, adhesive, etc. for retaining excess fiber in adesired orientation. In addition, storage end cap 1614 may retain coilsat one or more angular orientations to facilitate achieving a determinedbend radius. For example, excess fiber associated with outputreceptacles 1608A-D may be wound in coils and stored with an angularorientation to maintain at least manufacturer recommended minimum bendradii for the coiled fibers. Storage end cap 1614 may include a storagecap mating surface 1628 that may be configured and dimensioned so as toform a weather tight seal when coupled to fourth mating surface 1624B,of second output section 1610.

One or more sections of cylindrical terminal 1600 may utilize o-rings orother compliant sealing devices to facilitate formation of weather tightseals at the intersections of input end cap 1602, first output section1606, second output section 1610 and/or storage end cap 1614. In oneimplementation, a cylindrical fiber drop terminal, such as terminal1600, may have an outside diameter on the order of 3.5″ (89 mm).

FIG. 17A illustrates an implementation of a fiber drop terminal 1700employing loop back-plugs, consistent with the principles of theinvention. Fiber drop terminal 1700 may be configured in a mannersimilar to fiber drop terminals described in conjunction with FIGS. 3A,4, 5, 13, 14A, 15, and/or 16. Terminal 1700 may include outputreceptacles 1710A-D, a first loop-back assembly 1701, and a secondloop-back assembly 1703. Each loop-back assembly 1701, 1703 may includea first output connector 1702 and a second output connector 1704communicatively coupled via an output fiber 1706 having a loop-backportion 1708.

Output receptacles 1710A-D may be associated in pairs by way of firstloop-back assembly 1701 and second loop-back assembly 1703 for testing.For example, output receptacles 1710A and 1710D may form a pair by wayof first loop-back assembly 1701. Output connectors 1702 and 1704 may beconfigured to couple output receptacle 1710A to 1710D so that an opticalsignal present at receptacle 1710A may be conveyed to output receptacle1710D.

Implementations employing loop-back plugs may facilitate the testing oftwo incoming optical fibers (e.g., 1710B and 1710C) without requiringthat a linesman be present at the fiber drop terminal during testing.For example, a testing device and/or a technician at a central officeand/or a fiber distribution hub may send a test signal along a firstincoming optical fiber associated with output receptacle 1710B. The testsignal may pass from output receptacle 1710B through first outputconnector 1702 and loop-back fiber 1706 to second output connector 1704and into output receptacle 1710C. The test signal may travel through asecond incoming optical fiber to the central office and/or fiberdistribution hub where the technician is located. The technician maydetect the presence and/or absence of the test signal on the secondincoming optical fiber.

If a fiber drop terminal includes eight output receptacles, fourloop-back plug assemblies may be used to allow testing of each outputreceptacle and/or fiber associated with the fiber drop terminal. When acustomer is connected to the fiber drop terminal, the loop-back assemblymay be removed from the output receptacle that will be connected to thecustomer and/or removed from the opposing output receptacle. A dummyplug may be inserted in the opposing output receptacle to prevent dirtand moisture from entering the opposing receptacle while not connectedto a customer. An output connector associated with an output cablerunning to a customer premises may be connected to the output receptacleused to provide service to the customer.

Prior art testing techniques may require that a linesman inject a signalinto an optical fiber at a central office and/or fiber distribution huband then drive to a fiber drop terminal being tested. The linesman mayleave a diesel truck idling while he climbs a pole and determines if thetest signal is present at an output receptacle. After determining if thesignal is present, the linesman may return to the central office and/orfiber distribution hub and connect the test signal to another fiberassociated with, for example, an adjacent output receptacle on the fiberdrop terminal. The linesman may drive back out to the fiber dropterminal and determine if the test signal is present on the adjacentoutput receptacle.

Implementations making use of loop-back plug assemblies 1701 and 1703may produce substantial cost savings when used to test fiber dropterminals. Cost savings may result from the time saved by eliminatingdriving between a fiber drop terminal location and a central officeand/or fiber distribution hub while testing a fiber drop terminal. Costsavings may also result from the fuel saved by eliminating trips to andfrom a fiber drop terminal when performing testing. Elimination of tripsto and from a fiber drop terminal may also conserve natural resources byreducing the consumption of fossil fuel.

FIG. 17B illustrates an exemplary flow diagram illustrating a method fortesting a fiber drop terminal used in a communication network consistentwith the principles of the invention. A fiber drop terminal may beinstalled on a multi-fiber strand along with loop-back assemblies 1701and/or 1703 (act 1720). For example, a fiber drop terminal may beinstalled on a multi-fiber strand in an assembly plant. For example,fiber drop terminals may be attached to breakouts, or tethers,associated with the multi-fiber strand. The terminated breakouts, ortethers, may be secured to the multi-fiber strand for transport to aninstallation location. An initial check of signal continuity in theoptical fibers leading to the fiber drop terminal may be performed inthe assembly plant prior to shipping the multi-fiber strand/fiber dropterminal system. A multi-fiber strand may have numerous fiber dropterminals attached to it.

The multi-fiber strand and fiber drop terminal are installed at apredetermined location (act 1730). For example, the multi-fiber strandmay be suspended from two or more utility poles and fiber drop terminalsmay be attached to the utility poles. A proximate end of the multi-fiberstrand may be associated with a central office and/or an FDH serving,for example, a residential development. A distal end of the multi-fiberstrand may be located several kilometers away from the central officeand/or FDH and may be associated with a fiber drop terminal. A deployedfiber drop terminal may have one optical fiber associated with eachoutput receptacle. The fiber drop terminal may receive an incomingsignal on an optical fiber and provide the signal to a customer whenservice is connected to the customer.

A signal generator may be connected to a fiber associated with a firstoutput receptacle (act 1740). For example, a signal generator may belocated at, for example, a central office. The signal generator may beconnected to a first fiber servicing a first output receptacle on afiber drop terminal. A first output connector, associated with aloop-back assembly, may be coupled to the first output receptacle. Acorresponding output connector associated with the loop-back assemblymay be plugged into a second output receptacle associated with a secondfiber that runs back to, for example, the central office. A signaldetector may be connected to a second fiber at the central office (act1750).

Since first output connector 1702 is communicatively coupled to secondoutput connector 1704 via loop-back portion 1708, a signal arriving atthe first output receptacle may pass through first output connector1702, loop-back portion 1708, and second output connector 1704 so as tobe present at the second output receptacle. An optical signal present atthe second output receptacle may traverse the second optical fiber backto the central office and/or FDH. The optical signal traversing thesecond optical fiber may be detected using the signal detector (act1760). The presence of an optical signal on the second fiber mayindicate that both the first fiber and second fiber are operatingproperly. In contrast, if no signal and/or a degraded signal is detectedon the second fiber, the first fiber and/or the second fiber may not beoperating properly. When testing is complete, loop-back assembly 1701may remain in place until a customer is connected to the fiber dropterminal. At that time, loop-back assembly 1701 may be removed andreused on another fiber drop terminal. A dummy plug may be inserted intoan unused output receptacle to prevent dirt and/or moisturecontamination.

The method of FIG. 17B may allow a single technician to test some and/orall fiber drop terminals associated with one or more multi-fiber strandsfrom a single location. Testing from a single location may providesignificant time and fuel savings as compared to testing fiber dropterminals by having a technician travel from a central office and/or FDHto and from a fiber drop terminals installed in the field. The method ofFIG. 17B may also allow testing during inclement weather since thetechnician may be located indoors, such as when testing from a centraloffice.

FIG. 18 illustrates a flow chart showing an exemplary method for routingfiber strands within a fiber drop terminal employing an angled fibermanagement system, consistent with the principles of the invention. Themethod begins with receipt of a housing (act 1810). For example, ahousing, such as an implementation illustrated in conjunction with FIGS.3A, 9A, 11B, 13, 14A, 15 and/or 16, may be used. An output receptaclemay be installed in a housing using techniques known in the relevantarts (act 1820). An input cable having one or more optical fibers may bepassed through an input channel, such as input channel 260, associatedwith a housing of the fiber drop terminal (act 1830). Alternatively, aninput cable may be terminated with an input connector and coupled to aninput receptacle on the housing in place of the input channel. Opticalfibers associated with the input cable may be run inside the housing andsecured using, for example, central management retainers (act 1840). Inone implementation, a central management retainer may be located betweentwo output receptacles substantially along the centerline of thehousing. One or more ends, such as distal ends, of the optical fibersmay be connected to one or more output receptacles (step 1850). Opticalfibers may be fused to an output receptacle and/or may be terminatedwith a connector configured and arranged to mate with aconnector/receptacle associated with an output receptacle mounted in thehousing.

Excess optical fiber may be formed into one or more coils and maintainedas an angled management coil within housing 1306 using a combination oflow elevation retainers and/or high elevation retainers (step 1860). Theangled management coil may be configured so as to maintain amanufacturer recommended bend radius of, for example, 1.2 inches and/or1.5 inches.

FIG. 19 illustrates a flow chart showing an exemplary method forinstalling a fiber drop terminal using a bracket, consistent with theprinciples of the invention. A mounting location for the fiber dropterminal is selected (act 1910). Mounting locations may include utilitypoles, suspended strands, equipment racks, central offices, and/orbuilding structures. A mounting bracket may be attached to the mountingsurface at a desired mounting location (act 1920). The mounting bracketmay be attached using nails, screws, rivets, adhesive, etc. A fiber dropterminal including a housing and/or a base may be placed on or againstthe mounting bracket (act 1930). The housing and/or base may be securedto the bracket using fasteners, ties, latches, keyed interlockingdevices and/or a friction-based fit as appropriate (act 1940). Forexample, the housing and/or base may be attached using screws, wireties, nylon ties, or using a keyed friction retaining mechanism such asa slot and post arrangement. An output dummy plug may be removed from anoutput receptacle (act 1950). An output connector having an output fiberassociated therewith may be connected to the output receptacle to conveyelectromagnetic data, such as optical data, to a customer by way of anoutput fiber (act 1960).

FIG. 20 illustrates a flow chart showing an exemplary method forinstalling fiber drop terminals and/or output connectors onto amulti-fiber strand prior to deployment in the field, consistent with theprinciples of the invention. For example, the method of FIG. 20 may belargely carried out in a manufacturing and/or assembly facility. Themethod may begin with receipt of information about a desired location ofa fiber drop terminal (act 2010). This location information may be usedto identify, or determine, a breakout location in the multi-fiberstrand. A fiber drop terminal may be installed at the breakout location,such as by attaching the fiber drop terminal to a fiber bundle extractedfrom the multi-fiber strand (act 2020). For example, it may bedetermined that an eight-output fiber drop terminal is required on autility pole having a specific set of geographic coordinates associatedtherewith. At the appropriate location within the multi-fiber strand, abreakout including eight fibers may be created. This breakout mayprovide eight input fibers to the fiber drop terminal.

Returning to FIG. 20, a determination may be made as to whether an inputconnector should be attached to the breakout fibers and/or whether afiber drop terminal should be attached (act 2030). If an input connectorshould be attached, the input connector may be attached to an incomingfiber bundle (act 2040). In contrast, if a fiber drop terminal should beattached, the fiber drop terminal may be attached to the appropriatenumber of breakout strands (act 2050).

After act 2040 and/or act 2050, the fiber drop terminal and/or inputconnector may be secured to the incoming bundle in a manner thatfacilitates efficient deployment in the field (act 2060). For example,an input connector and the incoming bundle associated therewith may beattached to the multi-fiber strand using tie wraps. The incoming bundleand input connector may be wrapped to the multi-fiber strand in a mannerfacilitating passage of the assembly through standard pulleys that maybe used for installing multi-fiber strands onto utility poles and/orbelow grade. The multi-fiber strand may be deployed in the field toprovide data communication services to subscribers (act 2070).

While selected preferred implementations have been illustrated anddiscussed herein, alternative configurations of fiber drop terminalsconsistent with aspects of the invention are possible. For example, analternative implementation may include a fiber drop terminal havingthreaded inserts and/or alignment grooves for matching particular sizesand designs of suspended strands. In particular, the inserts and groovesmay be configured to mate with selected types of mounting brackets foruse with different sizes and types of strands. In addition, thebracket/insert/enclosure assembly may be designed so as to providereceptacles in an orientation optimized for anticipated angles ofapproach that may be used by a linesman when accessing the installedenclosure. Furthermore, the bracket may be designed so as to eliminateshifting, rotation about the strand, and/or sagging while being accessedby a linesman.

Implementations may be mounted to metallic strand wires that aresuspended between utility poles. In these applications, implementationsof fiber drop terminals may be securely fastened to the strand to avoidlongitudinal shifting of the fiber drop terminal along the strand. Inaddition the fiber drop terminal may be anchored to discouragerotational shifting around the strand. Finally the fiber drop terminaland/or mounting device may be configured so that the fiber drop terminalis suspended a fixed distance below the strand and/or so that the fiberdrop terminal does not sag and/or droop.

Another implementation of a fiber drop terminal may include outputconnectors installed in a housing associated with a fiber drop terminal.Output connectors may be used in place of, or in addition to, outputreceptacles.

Still other implementations of a fiber drop terminal may includeprovisions, such as connectors, receptacles, pigtails, etc., forconveying communication signals over copper wires in addition toconveying optical signals over output fibers. For example, outputreceptacles may include both an optical fiber and one or more copperconductors. Output connectors mating with the receptacles may conveyoptical signals and/or electrical signals to a destination.

Still other implementations of fiber drop terminals may includeelectronic data storage and communication devices for facilitatingnetwork deployment and configuration. For example, an implementation ofa fiber drop terminal may be equipped with a radio-frequencyidentification (RFID) tag. The RFID tag can store information related tosubscribers associated with output receptacles on the enclosure, centraloffices (COs) supplying data to the enclosure, information associatedwith maintenance of the enclosure, and/or the geographic location of theenclosure. Information stored in the RFID tag can be queried by alinesman on the ground, or in a vehicle, before climbing a utility poleusing a conventional RFID tag reader. In addition, new information canbe stored in the RFID tag to accurately reflect the status andconfiguration of the enclosure. Fiber drop terminals equipped with RFIDtags or other electronic processing communication, and/or storagedevices may, for example, be referred to as intelligent fiber dropterminals. Fiber drop terminals may also be configured withradio-frequency and/or landline communication capabilities. For example,a fiber drop terminal may be equipped with a cellular transceiver thatmay be configured to facilitate testing of input receptacles and/oroutput receptacles associated with the fiber drop terminal and/or tofacilitate error detection such as water penetration into an enclosure.

In still other alternative implementations, fiber drop terminals may beequipped to receive removable rain shields for preventing precipitationfrom coming into contact with connectors and receptacles when fiber dropterminals are serviced. When a service or upgrade operation is complete,a linesman can remove the rain shield. The rain shield may be configuredto be re-useable so that it can be used when servicing other fiber dropterminals.

In still other alternative implementations, a base may have a receivingsurface that is a channel having essentially any shape which can be usedwith or without a gasket to facilitate a watertight seal with a housing.Alternatively, the fiber drop terminal housing may include a matingchannel configured and dimensioned to form a watertight seal with achannel in the base and/or the housing may contain a channel with, orwithout, a gasket while the base member includes a substantially flatmating surface. In addition, the base member can be configured to havean input connector or receptacle and/or an output connector orreceptacle for facilitating the output and/or input of electromagneticsignals.

In yet another alternative implementation, a cylindrical fiber dropterminal may include an input end cap molded to a fist output sectionand/or a storage end cap molded to a second output section. The firstoutput section may be configured and dimensioned to mate with a surfaceof the second output section to form a substantially watertightenclosure. Additional output sections may be added between first outputsection and second output section to achieve substantially any numberand/or configuration of output receptacles.

The foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the inventionprovides illustration and description, but is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed.Modifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. Forexample, while series of acts have been described with respect to FIGS.17B, 18, 19 and 20, the order of the acts may be varied in otherimplementations consistent with the invention. Moreover, non-dependentacts may be implemented in parallel.

No element, act and/or instruction used in the description of theapplication should be construed as critical or essential to theinvention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, thearticle “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only oneitem is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Further,the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on”unless explicitly stated otherwise.

The scope of the invention is defined by the claims and theirequivalents.

1. (canceled)
 2. A drop terminal comprising: a housing having a frontside and an oppositely disposed back side; a base attached to the backside of the housing to form an enclosure defining an interior cavity,the enclosure extending along a length between a first end and a secondend, the enclosure extending along a width between a first side and asecond side, the enclosure defining a a weather tight seal disposedbetween the housing and the base to environmentally seal the interiorcavity of the enclosure; a splitter incorporated in the drop terminal tosplit incoming optical signals into a plurality of outgoing opticalsignals; a cable input defined by the enclosure at the first end, thecable input providing an input cable with sealed access to the interiorcavity of the enclosure; at least four ruggedized outputs disposed insealing engagement with the enclosure, each of the ruggedized outputsdefining an interior port accessible from within the interior cavity ofthe enclosure and an exterior port accessible from an exterior of theenclosure, the exterior port of each ruggedized output being configuredto seal an interface between the ruggedized output and a respectivemating connector, the exterior port of each ruggedized output also beingconfigured to mechanically secure the respective mating connector to theruggedized output with a twist-to-lock fastener, and the exterior portsfacing at least partially towards any input cable received at the cableinput; and a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the interiorcavity of the enclosure, each of the optical fibers having aconnectorized end received at a respective one of the interior ports ofthe ruggedized outputs.
 3. The drop terminal of claim 2, furthercomprising an input cable including an optical fiber extending into theinterior cavity of the enclosure through the cable input.
 4. The dropterminal of claim 3, wherein the optical fiber of the input cable isoptically coupled to the interior port of a first of the ruggedizedoutputs.
 5. The drop terminal of claim 4, wherein the optical fiber ofthe input cable is the plurality of optical fibers disposed within theinterior cavity of the enclosure.
 6. The drop terminal of claim 2,wherein the twist-to-lock fastener of each ruggedized output portincludes threading.
 7. The drop terminal of claim 2, wherein the atleast four ruggedized outputs are disposed in sealing engagement withthe housing.
 8. The drop terminal of claim 7, wherein the housingdefines a stepped face facing at least partially towards the cableinput.
 9. The drop terminal of claim 8, wherein at least some of theruggedized outputs is disposed on the stepped face.
 10. The dropterminal of claim 8, wherein the housing defines a plurality of steppedfaces that each face at least partially towards the cable input.
 11. Thedrop terminal of claim 10, wherein the ruggedized outputs are disposedat the stepped faces.
 12. The drop terminal of claim 11, wherein eachstepped face receives two ruggedized outputs.
 13. The drop terminal ofclaim 8, wherein the stepped face in angled at a non-perpendicular anglerelative to the first end of the enclosure.
 14. The drop terminal ofclaim 14, wherein the at least four ruggedized outputs include at leasteight ruggedized outputs.
 15. The drop terminal of claim 2, wherein theat least four ruggedized outputs include twelve ruggedized outputs. 16.The drop terminal of claim 2, wherein the splitter is a passivesplitter.
 17. The drop terminal of claim 2, further comprising plugsdisposed at the exterior ports of the ruggedized outputs when theruggedized outputs are not in use, the plugs preventing dirt andmoisture from accumulating on the connectorized ends received at thecorresponding interior ports.
 18. The drop terminal of claim 2, whereinthe splitter is selected from the group consisting of a 1×2 splitter, a1×4 splitter, and a 1×8 splitter.
 19. The drop terminal of claim 2,wherein the exterior port of each ruggedized output includes a radialseal adapted to seal the interface between the ruggedized output and therespective mating connector.
 20. The drop terminal of claim 2, whereinan o-ring is disposed at an interface between each of the ruggedizedoutputs and the housing.
 21. The drop terminal of claim 2, wherein thecable input is defined by the housing.